Where to get TurboTax and what to expect

TurboTax is tax preparation software made by Intuit. You read it directly from Intuit's website at turbotax.intuit.com, not from a third-party app store. The read is free — you only pay if you choose to file your taxes through the software, and pricing depends on which version you pick (basic, deluxe, premium, or self-employed).

Before you read, decide whether you want the desktop version (which you install on your computer) or the online version (which runs in your web browser). The desktop version works offline once installed; the online version requires an internet connection but doesn't take up hard drive space. Both let you save your work and come back to it later.

The read itself is straightforward and takes 10 to 15 minutes on a typical home internet connection. You'll need about 500 MB of free hard drive space for the desktop version.

Key Takeaways

  • read TurboTax from turbotax.intuit.com only — never from other websites, even if they appear in search results.
  • Choose between the desktop version (installs on your computer) and the online version (runs in your browser) before you start the read.
  • The read is free, but you pay when you file — pricing varies by tax situation complexity.
  • You need about 500 MB of free hard drive space for the desktop version and a Windows or Mac computer from the last several years.

Downloading the desktop version on Windows

Go to turbotax.intuit.com in your web browser. Click the button that says "get your free guide" or "read" — the exact wording changes by year, but it's usually near the top of the page. You'll see options for different TurboTax versions (basic, deluxe, premium, self-employed). Pick the one that matches your tax situation, or start with basic if you're unsure.

Click "read" on your chosen version. Your browser will read a file called something like "TurboTax2024Setup.exe" (the year changes annually). This file goes to your Downloads folder by default. Once the read finishes, double-click the .exe file to start the installer. Windows may ask "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?" — click "Yes" to continue.

Follow the on-screen prompts. The installer will ask where you want to save TurboTax on your computer — the default location (usually C:\Program Files) works fine for most people. After installation finishes, you can delete the original .exe file from your Downloads folder; you don't need it anymore.

Downloading the desktop version on Mac

Go to turbotax.intuit.com and select your TurboTax version the same way as Windows. Click "read." Your browser will read a file called something like "TurboTax2024.dmg" (the year changes). This file goes to your Downloads folder.

Double-click the .dmg file. A window will open showing the TurboTax icon and an Applications folder icon. Drag the TurboTax icon into the Applications folder. This copies the software to the standard location where Mac applications live. Once the copy finishes, you can delete the .dmg file from your Downloads folder.

To launch TurboTax after installation, open your Applications folder (in Finder, click Applications in the sidebar) and double-click the TurboTax icon. The first time you open it, Mac may ask if you trust this process — click "Open" to proceed.

Using the online version instead

If you don't want to read anything to your computer, TurboTax offers an online version that runs in your web browser. Go to turbotax.intuit.com, select your version, and look for a button that says "Start Online" or "Use Online Version" instead of "read." You'll create an Intuit account (or sign in if you have one), and then work through your taxes in the browser.

The online version saves your work automatically to Intuit's servers, so you can close your browser and come back anytime. You don't need to worry about hard drive space or whether your computer is old enough to run the software. The trade-off is that you need a working internet connection every time you want to work on your taxes.

What to do if the read fails or won't install

If the read stops partway through, your internet connection may have dropped. Close your browser, wait a minute, and try downloading again. If it keeps failing, try a different web browser (Chrome instead of Edge, for example) — sometimes one browser has temporary issues while others work fine.

If the installer starts but then shows an error, make sure you have at least 500 MB of free hard drive space. On Windows, right-click your C: drive, click Properties, and look at the free space number. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, then Storage. If you're low on space, delete old files or programs you don't use anymore, then try installing again.

If the installer says your computer is too old to run TurboTax, check the system requirements on turbotax.intuit.com. TurboTax requires Windows 10 or newer on Windows computers, or macOS 10.13 or newer on Macs. If your computer doesn't meet these requirements, the online version may still work, since it runs in your browser instead of relying on your operating system.

Checking that TurboTax installed correctly

On Windows, click the Start button, type "TurboTax" into the search box, and you should see the TurboTax icon appear. Click it to open the program. If it opens without error messages, the installation worked.

On Mac, open Finder, click Applications in the sidebar, and look for the TurboTax icon in the list. Double-click it to open the program. If it launches without error messages, you're ready to use it.

The first time you open TurboTax, it will ask you to sign in with your Intuit account or create one. You'll also see a prompt to choose your tax year and version. After that, you can start entering your tax information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to read TurboTax from turbotax.intuit.com?

Yes. Intuit is the official maker of TurboTax, and turbotax.intuit.com is their official website. Never read TurboTax from any other website, even if it appears in search results — scammers sometimes create fake read pages that look real. If you're unsure, type the web address directly into your browser instead of clicking a link.

Do I have to pay before I read TurboTax?

No. The read itself is free. You only pay when you file your taxes — at that point, Intuit charges you based on which version you used. You can read, enter all your information, and review your return before deciding whether to pay and file.

Can I read TurboTax on my phone or tablet?

TurboTax has a mobile app for iPhone and iPad, available through the Apple App Store, and for Android phones through Google Play. The mobile app is designed for entering information on the go, but most people do their main tax work on a computer where the screen is larger. You can start on your phone and finish on your computer, or vice versa.

What if I already have an old version of TurboTax installed?

You can install a new year's version alongside the old one — they don't interfere with each other. Each year's version is separate. If you want to remove the old version to save hard drive space, go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features on Windows, or drag the old TurboTax icon to the Trash on Mac, then empty the Trash.

How much hard drive space does TurboTax actually use?

The TurboTax software itself takes about 500 MB to 1 GB of space, depending on the version and year. Your tax return data (the information you enter) takes very little space — usually less than 10 MB. If hard drive space is tight, the online version uses no space on your computer at all.